Geoffrey Freeman Allen (16 March 1922 – 7 July 1995) was an English author specialising in the field of railways.[1] He authored many books and magazine articles on this subject, and for a time was editor of Jane's World Railways. His name was usually styled G. Freeman Allen. Greater Anglia used to operate a class 321 electric multiple unit named “Geoffrey Freeman Allen”.
Born in England in 1922, Geoffrey Freeman Allen was the son of Cecil J. Allen who was also a writer on railways and was editor of the magazine Trains Illustrated in the late 1940s.[1] Geoffrey left a career in the British Army in 1948 to join the writing staff at Trains Illustrated, and in 1950 succeeded his father as editor.[1] He developed a new style of railway journalism which focused more on business than on train performance and technological innovation and design.[1] Under his lengthy tenure the magazine was rebranded to its current name, Modern Railways.[1] He also served as editor of Railways World for many years.[1]
Allen eventually left his role as editor to become the managing director of the publishing firm Ian Allan Ltd., the publisher of Modern Railways and other magazines and books.[1] Uncomfortable in this role, he stepped down after a few years to take the position of editor of Jane's World Railways.[1] He retired from that position in 1992, but continued to contribute as writer after.[1] He died in 1995.[1]